Postal workers back to work

“This needed to end as soon as possible”

By NUNATSIAQ NEWS

Thousands of Canadian postal workers are going back to their jobs this week.

Nearly 50,000 workers are expected back on the job Monday night after back-to-work legislation, which passed without changes in the House of Commons Saturday after nearly 48 hours of debate, received royal assent in the Senate Sunday night.

“After days of Parliamentary obstruction, I am glad that our government was finally able to advance its plan to end the Canada Post work stoppage,” said Lepma Aglukkaq, Nunavut’s MP, in a June 27 statement. “This disruption was having a real effect on people from coast to coast to coast, and I was especially concerned about the impact a long-term strike would have had on the North. For many Northern communities, the mail is an essential link to basic necessities, so this needed to end as soon as possible.”

But while expect smooth delivery of mail is expected to resume, the union says the emotional climate at postal facilities across Canada will be anything but warm.

George Floresco, a national vice-president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, said the level of animosity felt by most workers is likely to linger for a long time.

“Our members are going back . and they’re angry, they’re quite upset and that resentment is going to the workplace,” Floresco said Monday. “They’re angry at Canada Post and they’re angry at the Harper government. The mail will get processed -we’re not angry at the customers, that’s for sure -but it’s only going to carry on and there won’t be any labour peace in the post office for years to come as a result of this.”

Despite the feelings of dissatisfaction, Floresco said all workers are expected back at work and said it’s unlikely there will be pockets of revolt against the legislation, which would come with harsh penalties.

(with files from Postmedia News)

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